Carding device for artificial teeth



Feb. 23 1926." 1,573,858

L. PICKERING GARDING DEVICE FOR ARTIFICIAL TEE ITH Filed Sept. 13, 1924 Patented F eb. 23, 1926.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAFAYETTE PICK RING, or COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR To THE CoLUMBUs DENTAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION or 01110.

CABDING DEVICE FOR ARTIFICIAL TEETH.

Application filed September 13, 1924. Serial No. 737,537.

To all 107mm it may concern:

Be it known that'I, Laranrrrn PIOIQEIF ING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and Stateof Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carding Devices for Artificial Teeth, of which the fol- I lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved carding device for effecting the removable mounting for artificial teeth upon a suitable form of base for the purpose of holding the teeth incident to their shipping or display.

The primary object of the invention consists in the provision of an improved mounting by which artificial teeth can be securely and removably connected upon a suitable form of base, and to permit this object to be carried out in such a manner as to avoid injury to the teeth when applied to or removed from the base, to securely hold the teeth against accidental displacement while on the base, to permit of their individual removal or application with respect to the base and to provide a novel form of securing means: constructed for convenient operation, simple and economical to manufacture and embodying other advantageous features of design, construction and operation to be hereinafter pointed out.

IVith these and other objects in view, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features of I construction, combinations of elements and present invention,

arrangements of parts hereinafter to be fully described and pointed out 1n the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure I is a front elevation of a preferred form of the mounting comprising the Figure 2 is avertical. section taken on the line 22 of Figure l,

Figure 3 is an edge elevation of the mounting,

Figure at is a 414 of Figure 1, V

Figure 5 is a similar view disclosing a slightly modified form of the holding head,

Figure 6 is a side elevation showing a further modified form of the invention,

Figure 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of ig a 1 Figure .8 is a front elevat on of further cross-section on the line Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view on the line 9-9 of Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a front elevation of a still further modified form, and

Figure 11 is a section on the line ll-11 of Figure 10.

In previous forms of holders or mountings for artificial teeth it has been proposed to retain the teeth in place by the provision of fixed studs projecting from the base of the mounting and arranged to be received within longitudinal groovesv provided in the lingual surface of the teeth and in connection with this structure resilient means have been provided whereby when the teeth are mounted on the holding studs spring pressure is applied to the teeth so as to create a friction between the walls of the grooves and the complemental surface of the studs to prevent the teeth from becoming accidentally disengaged with the holding studs. In some instances this pressure is exterted outwardly upon the teeth so as to force the latter away from the base of the mounting and in other instances this arrangement is reversed and the spring pressure is applied inwardly upon the teeth. In either event, however, considerable pressure is applied to the teeth at all times while they are retained upon the holding studs. This structure holds the teeth in applied positions and effectually prevents accidental removal of the teeth from the mountings. These teeth are formed from a suitable porcelain composition and possess a hard, tough molecular structure, nevertheless, in the event they are roughly handled or if the spring pressure exercised thereon is too great, the walls of the securing grooves are apt to crack or fracture to an extent wherein the teeth are destroyed or rendered unfit for actual use. Therefore, the present invention is directed chiefly to the provision of an improved form of mounting wherein a structure is provided fo'r effectually preventing the aocide ntalu'emoval of the teeth while applied to the mounting, and an arrangement provided whereby injury to the teeth, by reason of the mounting, is effectively precluded.

To this end, the form of the invention disclosed in Figures 1 to l inclusive consists of a mounting 1 comprising a base 2 of wood or metal as the case may be, which may be provided with an ornamental plush exterior surfa e it. desiredv fiecured. regular intervals in the mounting is aplurality of studs 3, which have their shank ends l se curely embedded within the base, while the enlarged head ends 5 of said studs project laterally from the exterior sur ace of the base and are adapted for engagement with the artificial teeth 6.- These teeth may, of course, be of any standard form but in this instance are provided along their lingual surfaces with substantially dove tail shaped securing grooves 7. In practice, these grooves are employed for the reception of anchoring pins wnich are utilized in securing the teeth in connectionwith the bac-kings with which they are'rclated in the mouth of the user. In the present instance useis made of these grooves for thepurpcse of securing them in connection with the mounting 1. It .vill'be observed that the shape of the studs such that the head end 5 thereof may be slidably received within the enlarged portion of the groove 7, and the tooth advanced on the stud 3 until the head end of the stud comes in contact with the lower closed end 8 of the groove.

To retain the tooth in this position and without liability of injurythereto, I provide the mounting with a plurality of elongated slots or slits't), which are situated in vertical registration with and immediately below the studs 3. Ada-p ed tobe slidably positioned within the slots 9 are headed seating pins 10. These pins are provided with bifurcated shanks 11, struck from a resilient material and so positioned within the slots 9 that the normal resiliency of said shanks will force the latter outwardly so that its surface will frict-ionally engage withthe vertical walls comprising the slot 9, thereby holding the pins 10 in any given position of adjustment" within said slots. .Theheaded ends 12 of the pins 10 project beyond the exterior surface of the base 2 and are each provided with a shoulder 13 adapted for engagement with the lower edges Oi the-teeth 6.

In operation a tooth is positioned upon the stud 3 by locating the open end of the groove in line with said stud whilo the lingual surface of the tooth is in engagement with the base 2 then, by pushing the tooth upwardly the stud is secured within said groove and upward movement of the tooth limited by the engagement of the stud with the lower closed end 8 of the groove 7.

'll henthis is done, the pin 10 is moved upwardly in its respectiveslot 9 until the shoulder surface 13 thereof comes in contact with the lower end of the tooth. The friction which the shank 11 of the pin exercises upon the walls of the slot 9 is amply snflicient to -sec ur-ely retain the pin in its position of holding engagement inconnection with the tooth, thereby preventing the tooth from moving relatively to the' studuntil after positive operation to this endi'has' been *lllade by 1 portions.

operatingthe pin. Consideration will disclose that thereis no spring pressure on the tooth while the latter is in its seouredposition and therefore there Willbe no stresses created within the tooth tending to crao: or fracture the same. However, by the mere application of finger pressure to the pin the latter may be adjusted to lock or release the tooth with which it is engaged. By reference to Figure 1 it will be observed that the artificial teeth are, of course, of varying pro- This is compensated for by reason of the slots 9, which are of suliicient length to allow such adjustment of the pins 10 in order to adapt the latter to teeth of all" lengths. This feature is of importance in a practical way in that it enables the teeth to be applied to any of the studs 3 without regard to position ororder and the mounting is instantly adapted thereto.

In the form. of the invention shown in Figure tithe shanks 4 of the stud 8 are spaced slightly so as to providemaximum resiliency and to thereby enable the shanks to securely and frictionally engage the walls of the slots 9'. The shanks are extended to produce curved operating extremitiesll which engage with the lower ends of the teeth 6 and also project to the exterior of the mounting so as to be within the convenient grasp of. the

operator. It will be apparent that by-t-he use of finger pressure, the extremities 14 may be pressed together so that convenience in the adjustment of the pins may be readily secured. I

In the modified form of the invention disclosed in Figures 6 and 7 substantially-this arrangement is carriedout only in reverse order. In this form of the invention the stud 15 which isemployed in connection withthe groove 7 of the teeth is adjustable instead of being stationary. This is accom plished by mounting-the studs 15 within slots 1.6 provided in the base 2, and the shanks of said studs are of resilient construction so that the studs will be retained in their set positions of adjustment. Then, the base is provided withst-ationary outturned lips 17 against which the lower edges of the teeth 6 e-n-gage.- This construction is nothing more than a reversal of the arrangement shown in Figures 1 to l, and the same principles are present and the structure is an obvious equivalent of the showing set forth in the preferred form.

InFigures 8 and 9 a metallic base 18 is used carrying resilient tongues 1 9-which are stamped out of the baseand are provided with crimped or stepped upper ends 20. These tongues provide adjustable stops or shoulders for the reception of the lower ends of the teeth 6, and securely hold such teeth in connection with the securing studs'3- -pro vide'd on the "base l8 "without excessive the tooth. Moreover, the structure is adaptable to teeth of varying size. In Figures 10 and 11 resilient heads 21 are pressed out from the base 22 and engage with the lower edges of the teeth mounted upon the base. These heads serve to support the teeth but do not exercise resilient pressure thereon when said teeth are finally applied to the base.

In view of the foregoing taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it will be seen that the present invention provides simple yet eiiicient means for quickly and positively effectin the application or removal of artificial teeth upon or from the base oi a mounting. The structure avoids the employment of destructive spring pressure when the teeth are applied upon the base and provides an improved form of fastening device for retaining the teeth in secured positions on the mounting. Ehe mechanism is adapted to teeth of varying proportions, does not required a predetermined placing of the teeth on the mount- I ing, presents an attractive appearance which in no way mars the mounting for display pu'poses and in addition to these features provides a structure which is simple and convenient to operate and economical to produce.

V hat is claimed is:

l. A mounting for artificial teeth comprising a base, holding studs on said base, looking members on said base adjacent said studs, and means permitting of relative adjustment between said locking members and studs to effect the securing of a tooth in connection with said base.

2. A mounting for artificial teeth comprising a base, and means for retaining artificial teeth in connection with said base comprising relatively adjustable clamping members mounted on said base, between which said teeth are trictionally secured.

3. A mounting for artificial teeth comprising a base, a tooth holding stud mounted on said base with which an artificial tooth is engaged by sliding movement of said tooth relative to the base. and holding means exercising spring pressure on the base only, said means restraining said tooth from longitudinal movement relative to said stud.

i. A mounting for artificial teeth comprising a base, a plurality of tooth holding studs having headed ends carried by said base, the headed ends of said studs being arranged for positioning in the securing grooves of artificial teeth, and a plurality of holding members mounted for sliding adjustment upon said base relative to said studs and cooperative with said teeth to restrain the latter from relative movement with respect to said studs.

5. in a mounting for artificial teeth, a base, a plurality of headed studs projecting -From said base, artificial teeth having grooves in the lingual surfaces thereof for the reception of the headed ends of said studs, and a plurality of adjustable locking members IIlGTZliJlG in slots provided in said base and cooperative with said teeth to lock the latter in connection with said studs.

6. In a mounting for artificial teeth, a base provided with a plurality of fixed studs having headed projecting ends, the ends of said studs being adapted for engagementwith the walls of grooves provided in the lingual surfaces of artificial teeth, locking members adjustable longitudinally of slots provided in said base, said locking members being provided with headed ends arranged for engagement with the lower edges of teeth secured upon said studs, and resilient means formed with said locking members and exercising pressure on the walls 01 said slots to retain said locking members in set positions of adjustment.

In testimony whereof I atiii; my signature.

LAFAYETTE PICKERING. 

